This post is an introduction to me, and to the research this whole site is built on.
My name is Johnny Botha. I have a software development and cybersecurity research background, and I work full-time at the CSIR, where project management on cybersecurity and research projects is one of my main responsibilities — alongside being actively involved in technical research projects myself. OSINTrace grew out of a side-line interest of mine: I design websites and experiment with digital marketing on the side, and a few years ago I picked up another interest — trading cryptocurrencies, and more recently stocks, forex, and indices.
On the academic side, I hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Systems Engineering, a master's degree in Information Technology, and a certificate in Project Management (PMBOK). My master's research was closely related to what OSINTrace is built on: finding leaked personal information online, using POPIA as a baseline to measure whether the amount of leaked information increased or decreased over a three-year span.
Where the PhD — and OSINTrace — came from
In 2020 I developed a real interest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Around that same time, I saw a steady stream of scams in the crypto space and became convinced this area needed a lot more attention than it was getting. My employer supports pursuing doctoral studies, and I decided this was the right topic to pursue one on.
You can follow the published academic work itself on Google Scholar and ResearchGate — I'll keep both updated as new papers come out alongside the blog posts here.
To build additional depth in blockchain specifically, I also enrolled in an Ethereum Blockchain Software Development course. And to help define the actual investigative process itself, I obtained an academic license from Maltego — I'll be writing here about what I learn using Maltego and various other OSINT tools, working toward a process that could realistically be used by SAPS (the South African Police Service), the Hawks (the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI), the State Security Agency (SSA), and other law enforcement and intelligence bodies.
Since then, I've worked on a number of cases directly with the Hawks (DPCI) and with SAPS, getting hands-on experience rather than working from theory alone. I also provide OSINT and blockchain investigation training to SAPS, the Hawks/DPCI, and the State Security Agency (SSA). OSINTrace — the database, the investigations, the due diligence work, the training — is the practical, public-facing version of that same research and experience.
If this interests you
If you have an interest in OSINT, blockchain technology, or cryptocurrencies and want to engage, get in touch through the contact details on the homepage — or leave a comment below.
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